learning / apprenticeships

["GeorgeJulieJessie Graham" <gjjgraham@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Dan,

The questions you asked are 2 different things,  cutting stone and carving
stone are very different things.

A stone cutter of granite is the person who pitches flakes of granite off a
slab to make a monument . This is done with very specialized tools that can
be bought from Granite city tool co in Barre vermont.  Trow and Holden Co
also maked very fine stone cutting tools (Barre Vermont). The names of these
tools are, a hand set, tracer, and chipper.
An official 3 pound cutters hammer is best also.

Giving you this information is doing you no favor, because you need someone
to show you how to use them. It is impossible to tell you in writing.  You
have to develop a feel for how the stone breaks. Also the tools are
extreamly expensive!!

I'm getting off track here. As you are in the south,  Go to Elberton
Georgia,, the granite center of the south east, and ask one of the many
monument manufacturers to help you. Tell them that you heard that Elberton
granite and the stone cutters are so much better than barre vermontcutters.
After that , they will tell you anything!! I used to get tools from Bicknell
tool co. in Elberton. I don't know if they are still there as I'm now
inwestern NY and deal with granite city tool.
If you can spend a day and watch a pro, you will skip a lot of trial and
error education, and broken tools.

While in Elberton, or Barre,  look up and visit a memorial sculptors studio.
there you can see how carbide tipped chisles with pnumatic air hammers are
used to "carve stone"

Many years ago, I stumbled into a monument shop in South Carolina, looking
for some marble to carve.  I had taken art and stone carving in college, and
loved it. Abstract marble is my preference. The owner of the business looked
at pictures of my work and said " hell boy, if you can do that then you can
make a monument!!"

I went to work there, in a shop that had experienced people, and that is
when my REAL education on how to cut and carve stone begain.

So I finish up with this answer knowing that you have just put your toe in
the water. stone cutting is a dying trade, that is only practiced in the
granite centers of the country. If you can get with someone who will share
their time and knowledge, you will learn good stuff.

Get a GOOD dust mask!!!

George Graham